GMC Sierra 2500 HD Denali Ultimate is the Ultimate Luxury HD Truck

The GMC Sierra 2500 HD Denali Ultimate is GM’s highest-level heavy-duty truck. It takes the once-thought contradiction of the luxury work truck to the extreme, and MotorTrend was curious about how well the combination works. Buick GMC of Rochester gives you this synopsis of their driving impression.

The 2500 HD Denali Ultimate starts as GMC’s Sierra 2500 HD truck and gives it the Denali treatment inside and out. As a statement, the truck communicates that you work hard, which has paid off for you. Or maybe you just want a comfortable ride to pull your Airstream Classic 33FB. MotorTrend put it this way: “(It’s) like the Undercover Boss version of the heavy-duty truck world, as if it put on work boots but forgot to take off the Rolex.”

Standard and Smooth Diesel Power

Up front is a standard 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8.  That engine is available but optional on all other 2500 HD models. It is paired with an Allison® 10-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain is good for 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. Also standard are a 3.42 rear axle ratio exhaust brake system and engine block heater. MotorTrend declares it as “one of the smoothest heavy-duty powertrains on the road.” And: “a huge leap forward for the drivability of a diesel engine.”

MotorTrend also points out that while the 2500 HD Denali has standard 4-wheel drive, this is the go-to vehicle for the off-road enthusiast. GMC has plenty of other models that do the same, but while the posh truck feels most at home eating up miles on the highway, it does have the off-road chops to venture off the pavement and onto rough, muddy job sites without issue. 

Satisfying Performance

In addition to being highly capable and very comfortable, the Sierra 2500 HD Denali Ultimate is also satisfyingly quick. Despite weighing 8,346 pounds, MotorTrend recorded a 0-60 time of just 6.5 seconds, with the quarter mile recorded at 14.9 seconds at 93.2 mpg. While nobody would think of the truck as a drag racer, it does show that it has more than enough oomph to enter an uphill freeway on ramp while towing something close to its 21,900-pound towing capacity. They also point out that without a trailer toggling along in the back, it can stop from 60-0 in 137 feet, which “is better than some much smaller SUVs manage to do.”

Looking as Special as it Is

Of course, the Denali Ultimate trim version of this 2500 HD has all the excellent hardware you find up the GMC truck hierarchy, including the six-way MultiPro tailgate, Kicker outdoor sound system, and retracting power assist steps. The Vader Chrome looks upscale without being excessively flashy. The Alpine Umber Full Grain Leather is described as less “cowboy” than the Ford King Ranch interior, and they found the leather embossed with a topographical map of the Denali Mountain range to be a nice touch.

MotorTrend finds the dash to be suitably upscale but takes issue with some of the control placement. They found the seat massage to be effective, but the controls to be confusing. Still, they admit that what confuses on the first drive becomes commonplace for the owner. They also point out that in appearance and execution, the Denali Ultimate effectively differentiates itself from Chevrolet’s HD offerings. 

All this hardware, standard features, and Luxurious materials does come at a cost. The model MotorTrend tested had a price of $96.260, which is just $1,365 over the base price. But they point out that once you similarly option a Ram or Ford, the pricing is in line, and they conclude by stating: “None of the luxury stuff gets in the way, and it’s still a rock-solid GM truck underneath all the glitz and glamor.”

If you have been considering treating yourself to the ultimate pickup truck, the obvious choice should be clear. The Sierra 2500 HD Denali Ultimate is a rare and unique model in the GMC lineup. If Penz Buick GMC of Rochester does not have one in stock, let one of our Sales Professionals know of your interest, and we will find one for you.